Park listing
Buffalo Rock
1300 North 27th Road, Ottawa, IL 61350
Buffalo Rock State Park is located on a bluff which once was an island in the Illinois River.
Trip starter
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Buffalo Rock
This listing is currently using verified trip data while licensed photography is being finalized.
Drive time
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Bathrooms
Restroom coverage on site
Trailer fit
No trailer-capable sites are listed in source data for this park.
Weather
Sunny
Why this park
Facilities
Facility coverage needs a closer look on the official reservation page.
Trailer fit
No trailer-capable sites are listed in source data for this park.
Activity mix
33 named routes are surfaced for hiking and activity planning.
About this park
Buffalo Rock State Park is located on a bluff which once was an island in the Illinois River. Now standing majestically on the north bank, this promontory affords a magnificent, sweeping view of the Illinois River.
Read full park description
Buffalo Rock State Park is located on a bluff which once was an island in the Illinois River. Now standing majestically on the north bank, this promontory affords a magnificent, sweeping view of the Illinois River. Located approximately 3 miles west of Ottawa in LaSalle County, this 298-acre park has long been a favorite picnic area, as well as a nature lovers’ delight. The area of Buffalo Rock was the home of the Illinois Indians when Louis Jolliet, the French explorer, and the Jesuit missionary priest Father Jacques Marquette made their trip up the Illinois River in 1673. Later, the Illinois tribe was virtually annihilated in protracted warfare with the aggressive Iroquois.
Campsite fit
Group-designated sites listed in park data: 0. Verify current group pricing, vehicle maximums, and campground rules on the official reservation page.
Group-site signal
No special group limitations surfaced in the current listing metadata.
Trailer and rig access
No trailer-capable sites are listed in source data for this park.
Fire rules
Campfires allowed in designated fire pits only. Firewood must be sourced within 50 miles or USDA certified; no out-of-state wood.
Bathrooms and facilities
Trails and activities
33 named trail routes are surfaced here from 77 mapped source segments. Start with the featured routes, then expand the full list if this park stays on your shortlist.
East 8th Road
3.0 miles total • track
Bluff Trail
2.6 miles total • 13 mapped segments • gravel • foot trail
Great Oak
1.9 miles total • 4 mapped segments • ground • path
View all trail routes
North Prairie Trail
1.8 miles total • 3 mapped segments • grass and ground • path
Fox River Trail
1.8 miles total • 5 mapped segments • ground • path
North 41st Road
1.2 miles total • unpaved • track
Effigy Trail
1.0 miles total • gravel • foot trail
East 23rd Road
0.9 miles total • track
North 27th Road
0.8 miles total • track
River Bluff Trail
0.7 miles total • gravel • foot trail
Red-River Trail
0.7 miles total • path
Woodland Trail
0.7 miles total • 8 mapped segments • ground • foot trail
Weather context
Sunny
2026-03-09 • 73° / 53° • 0% precipitation
Sunny. High near 73, with temperatures falling to around 71 in the afternoon. Southwest wind 10 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph.
May
May avg: 72°F high, 53°F low, 11 rainy days
June
June avg: 81°F high, 62°F low, 10 rainy days
July
July avg: 85°F high, 67°F low, 9 rainy days
Safety and rules
No active alerts surfaced for the selected dates.
Campfires allowed in designated fire pits only. Firewood must be sourced within 50 miles or USDA certified; no out-of-state wood.
Key rules and on-site notes
The current listing surfaces a short set of park rules worth checking before you finalize the trip.
Directions
From Ottawa: From Rte. 6 turn south on W.D. Boyce Memorial Dr. Continue on Boyce to Ottawa Ave. and turn right. Proceed on Ottawa Ave., which becomes Dee Bennett Rd for approximately three miles, the park is located on the left and the I&M Canal Access area is on the right. From Utica: Take Dee Bennett Rd. east five miles to Buffalo Rock.
Contact
(815) 433-2224
Fire policy
Campfires allowed in designated fire pits only. Firewood must be sourced within 50 miles or USDA certified; no out-of-state wood.
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